Area business owners worried about four-laning aftermath

A proposed four-lane divided Highway between Kakabeka Falls and Shabaqua Corners will kill area businesses, says the mayor of Oliver Paipoonge.

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation started a study in December 2009 for a potential four-lane divided highway between Kakabeka Falls and Shabaqua Corners. Officials with the ministry said the four-lane plans would ensure Highway 11/17 remained a viable option for motorists indefinitely.

According to the MTO website, in the mid-1970s the MTO concluded that the Trans-Canada Highway between Thunder Bay and Shabaqua Corners would eventually require four-lanes The plan was put on hold because the MTO believed additional lanes weren’t needed at the time.

Lucy Kloosterhuis, mayor for Oliver Paipoonge, said on Tuesday that all four routes presented by the MTO would bypass Kakabeka, leaving the town without the tourists driving through that the area businesses need.

"If we lose the tourism the businesses are essentially doomed," Kloosterhuis said. "The businesses depend on tourism. A majority of their income comes from tourism, as well as the young people who are employed in the park and in the village."

She said the MTO hasn’t officially picked a route, but the ministry appears to be favouring routes that bypassed the village. The MTO didn’t choose to widen the road that goes through Kakabeka because it would force residents in the area to leave their homes, she said.

"If the road is diverted and it bypasses the village, it will mean the end of the village," she said. "The village is already having trouble with tourism trying to get Americans here to spend money. "

If the highway bypasses Kakabeka, the village will face a similar fate as Kenora, a town she says lost millions when the Trans-Canada Highway was rerouted.

Johnny Tran, owner of The Pines restaurant, which is located on the highway in Kakabeka, opened his business four years ago. He said he wanted to leave Thunder Bay for better prospects.

His restaurant was empty and filled only with empty tables and chairs Tuesday afternoon. He said he’s given up on his business and doesn’t believe the MTO will change its mind regarding the bypass.

"In Kakabeka we rely on tourists," Tran said. "The bypass will affect me a lot and you could say it could affect my business up to 70 per cent. The government does whatever they want and they don’t listen to the people. It just doesn’t matter anymore. I’m closing up the business and moving elsewhere."

But not all business owners have given up.

Thomas Richardson, owner of Fantasy Falls Shell gas bar, said he would continue to advocate to the MTO to change its proposed plans.

"The bypass would be detrimental to my business," Richardson said. "We’re going to see what we can do but I don’t know if we have any clout in changing things. The government has kind of made up its mind I guess, but hopefully we can sway their decision."

Richardson said he would attend the public meeting on Wednesday at the Redeemer Lutheran Church at 7 p.m.

Rick Inman, senior project manager with the Ministry of Transportation Ontario, said the reason for the study and proposed plans were to ensure the highway stayed a viable option to drivers.

"As the ministry, we’re responsible for the vitality of Highway 11/17," Inman said. "We need to identify where a potential highway could be and eventually designate that corridor and protect it."

The study began in 2009 and expected to wrap up in the spring of 2010, he said. While the study and location maybe chosen by next year, the actual construction and development wouldn’t happen for another 20 to 30 years, he said.

Until that time the MTO will continue to take suggestions and review proposed plans, he said.

One option the ministry is looking at is turning the current four-lane stretch of highway that runs through Kakabeka into a five-lane roadway. That five-lane stretch of 11/17 would be available during the four-laning of the rest of the highway.
The option wouldn’t stop the ministry from moving ahead with the options that result in bypassing Kakabeka.

Inman said it is a balancing act by trying to ensure the highway stays safe, offers good mobility for drivers and access to local communities.